Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!
When interacting with a student who has been called to military service, does your campus community know the importance of advising the student to stop by the financial aid office?
As students are being called to military service, we, as campus communities, need to be aware of our college's guidelines for students departing our campuses. One critical guideline is having the student inform the financial aid office.
A financial aid office was recently broadsided. A student completely withdrew from classes at the registration office after the published tuition refund period. The student informed the clerk it was for military reasons; however, the clerk processed the withdrawal under normal drop procedures. The financial aid office received notice of the complete withdrawal. A Return of Title IV Funds was calculated. The student, the school's accounting office, and the Department of Education were informed of the required repayments. - OUCH!!
How could this have been avoided???? Communicate! Communicate!
If the clerk had been updated concerning college procedures regarding students being called to military service, the student would have been directed to the financial aid office. The appropriate refund would have been calculated, Title IV Funds would have been handled differently and the student would have received advising concerning loan forbearance.
If your campus is formulating a procedure to deal with students being called to military service, you may refer to NASFAA's website www.nasfaa.org. At this website you will find some clarification and guidance on how to handle Return of Title IV Funds and loan forbearance.
Remember to communicate with your campus community once your procedures have been established. If you want to communicate what is working on your campus with other RMASFAA members, you may send an e-mail to mollyc@lccc.cc.wy.us. These will be compiled and published in the next issue of RMASFAA Exchange.
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